Question about Molly Ringwald - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

seventies_sitcoms · 08-09-2005, 05:21 PM

Does anybody know if Molly Ringwald ever was bitter about being let go from the Facts of Life? You hear and read all kinds of things. I heard she was doing a small part in a movie and wasn't able to make it back for filming of the second season and they replaced her with Kim Fields.

I also heard that her agent/manager talked her into leaving anyway because he felt she would be able to move on to better things.

I also heard that she was contacted to do that reunion episode with the original girls when they came to visit at Edna's Edibles. Molly was free to do it, but wouldn't do it because she was still mad at them for letting her go. I also heard she was busy filming a movie, but wanted to do it.

What's the scoop?

Dr. Thong · 08-09-2005, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventies_sitcoms

Does anybody know if Molly Ringwald ever was bitter about being let go from the Facts of Life? You hear and read all kinds of things. I heard she was doing a small part in a movie and wasn't able to make it back for filming of the second season and they replaced her with Kim Fields.

I also heard that her agent/manager talked her into leaving anyway because he felt she would be able to move on to better things.

I also heard that she was contacted to do that reunion episode with the original girls when they came to visit at Edna's Edibles. Molly was free to do it, but wouldn't do it because she was still mad at them for letting her go. I also heard she was busy filming a movie, but wanted to do it.

What's the scoop?

Molly Ringwald and Kim Fields were in the cast together during the first season. Kim didn't replace Molly.

The show was getting only fair-to-middling ratings in its initial season, so the producers had to make a change to ensure the show's long term survival. The producers felt there were too many characters and decided to whittle it down to four characters: Blair, Tootie, Natalie and a new character they created, Jo.

I don't know specifically why Molly was one of the girls who was cut from the cast roster, but apparently they saw more potential in the Blair, Tootie and Natalie characters and the "new girl" Jo.

It may not have been an issue of talent - they had to re-focus they show and it worked. The show did pick up in the ratings and Molly ended up having the last laugh as she had a much bigger career than the girls on the show she was cut from. So in a way it worked out for all of them.

Latinoxtc · 08-11-2005, 10:09 PM

I've seen shows about FOL that merely say that Molly was filming a movie during the beginning of the 2nd season. They dont really go into detail as to whether she left the show or was let go. She did make several appearances during the 2nd season so I dont think she would be bitter.

seventies_sitcoms · 08-12-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latinoxtc

I've seen shows about FOL that merely say that Molly was filming a movie during the beginning of the 2nd season. They dont really go into detail as to whether she left the show or was let go. She did make several appearances during the 2nd season so I dont think she would be bitter.

Yeah, that's right. I remember Molly and a few of the other girls making guest appearances in the first few episodes of season 2 in the cafeteria.

Mr. Television · 08-12-2005, 02:01 PM

Molly made one appearance during the 2nd season. The others made a few appearances during the next few seasons.

Ireneparalegal · 08-14-2005, 11:28 PM

My understanding is they had way too many characters to write for and in Molly's case, since she had a current project and pending projects, it was best to let her go and pursue those other projects without being tied down to a series. It was just easier to let her go seeing that the cast needed to be cut down to size and Molly had a promising career.

80s Dude · 12-04-2021, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventies_sitcoms

Does anybody know if Molly Ringwald ever was bitter about being let go from the Facts of Life? You hear and read all kinds of things. I heard she was doing a small part in a movie and wasn't able to make it back for filming of the second season and they replaced her with Kim Fields.

I also heard that her agent/manager talked her into leaving anyway because he felt she would be able to move on to better things.

I also heard that she was contacted to do that reunion episode with the original girls when they came to visit at Edna's Edibles. Molly was free to do it, but wouldn't do it because she was still mad at them for letting her go. I also heard she was busy filming a movie, but wanted to do it.

What's the scoop?

Still mad after all these years.

'80sSitcoms · 12-04-2021, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Still mad after all these years.

I wouldn't say she's still "mad" necessarily, as over the past several years she has opened up to acknowledging and talking about it ever so gradually. But definitely "traumatically hurt feelings" that she had that she'll discuss as a "fact of life" and her most painful (as far as we know) career experience.

08-09-2005, 05:21 PM	#1
seventies_sitcoms * Senior Member Join Date: Jan 09, 2005 Posts: 2,244	Question about Molly Ringwald Does anybody know if Molly Ringwald ever was bitter about being let go from the Facts of Life? You hear and read all kinds of things. I heard she was doing a small part in a movie and wasn't able to make it back for filming of the second season and they replaced her with Kim Fields. I also heard that her agent/manager talked her into leaving anyway because he felt she would be able to move on to better things. I also heard that she was contacted to do that reunion episode with the original girls when they came to visit at Edna's Edibles. Molly was free to do it, but wouldn't do it because she was still mad at them for letting her go. I also heard she was busy filming a movie, but wanted to do it. What's the scoop?

08-11-2005, 10:09 PM	#3
Latinoxtc Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 15, 2004 Location: HOUSTON Posts: 182	I've seen shows about FOL that merely say that Molly was filming a movie during the beginning of the 2nd season. They dont really go into detail as to whether she left the show or was let go. She did make several appearances during the 2nd season so I dont think she would be bitter.
	__________________ Vote for The Facts of Life to be released on DVD at www.tvshowsondvd.com

08-12-2005, 02:01 PM	#5
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Molly made one appearance during the 2nd season. The others made a few appearances during the next few seasons.
	__________________ Sonny

08-14-2005, 11:28 PM	#6
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	My understanding is they had way too many characters to write for and in Molly's case, since she had a current project and pending projects, it was best to let her go and pursue those other projects without being tied down to a series. It was just easier to let her go seeing that the cast needed to be cut down to size and Molly had a promising career.